Manny Pacquiao Turns Antonio Margarito into the Scream Mask

I hate to say I told you so, but boxing karma travels fast. Everyone knows where I stand regarding the unforgivable boxing sin of loaded gloves committed by Antonio Margarito (now 38-7) before his fight with Shane Mosley—and perhaps others.

It was only fitting that the super-human Manny Pacquiao (now 52-3) turned Margarito's face into something resembling the Scream mask. And this was done without the benefit of plaster of Paris—the substance found in Margarito's hand wraps before the Shane Mosley fight.

To make matters worse, Margarito and his crew showed poor taste (and that's being kind) with their pre-fight mocking of Pacquiao's highly-respected trainer Freddie Roach, who's afflicted with Parkinson's disease. The "Pac Man" seemed hell-bent on making Margarito pay for this sin as well—and boy did he ever over 12 masochistic, repetitive rounds. The fight was never in question during the fight nor was it beforehand.

Most people want to point to Margarito's bloody win over Miguel Cotto as the fight in which he was possibly aided by "plaster knuckles." But the "fight freak" like me hearkens back to an ESPN fight nearly five years ago, when his opponent Sebastian Lujan nearly lost an ear for his troubles.

I'll confess I am not following due process of law in judging Antonio Margarito for his alleged boxing crimes. But as I have said time and time again, this is not a court of law. My fight insight tells me that Margarito's beating at the hands of Manny Pacquiao last night was a measure of ring justice being served.

Author's Note: Despite my unforgiving sentiments above, I do pray and hope that Antonio Margarito fully recovers (i.e. physically) from this fight.